Lillywhites dump Derby out

Derby's demoralising season reached a new low as they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage after being reduced to 10 men - following a 4-1 defeat to Preston.

The Coca-Cola Championship strugglers stunned the Pride Park crowd as they effectively wrapped up victory by half-time, racing into a 3-0 lead courtesy of a Simon Whaley strike sandwiched between two goals from the impressive Karl Hawley.

Rams substitute Rob Earnshaw pulled one back early in the second half but it was scant consolation for County. A miserable day for Paul Jewell's side was complete in injury-time when Lewin Nyatanga was sent off for a professional foul on substitute Neil Mellor and the former Liverpool striker converted the resulting penalty.

Derby threatened briefly early on when leading scorer Kenny Miller's well-struck effort was blocked by Youl Mawene, but it was Preston who took a 13th-minute lead. Andy Todd was caught dithering in possession by Chris Brown on the left of the Derby area and he squared for Hawley to slot low into the right corner.

The defensive frailties which have cost Derby so dearly already this season were again exposed after 33 minutes by a sweeping move.

Hawley charged clear down the right and found Darren Carter on the edge of area. He moved the ball to the unmarked Whaley on the left side, who had plenty of time to steady himself and curl low inside the right post.

Chris Sedgwick's shot then flashed wide of the post before Preston did make it 3-0. Again Hawley capitalised on an initial error from Todd, tucking the ball inside the right post as an increasingly frustrated Pride Park crowd let the home side know exactly what they thought at the half-time whistle.

Todd and Emanuel Villa made way for Giles Barnes and Earnshaw at the start of the second half and within 10 minutes it had the desired impact as the Wales international broke the offside trap to convert Miller's pass, calmly slotting underneath Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.

North End substitute Mellor was inches away from a fourth with an audacious chip late on, but the former Liverpool striker was then bundled over by Nyatanga, who received a straight red for the professional foul.

Mellor composed himself to fire the resulting penalty low into the right corner to complete a disastrous day for Derby.